The 9 Best NBA Performances From Last Week: The Beard's Triple-Double

James Harden amassed a historic triple-double Saturday night. Was it worthy of the number one spot?

During the course of an NBA season, we see countless standout performances. For each week, we get quite a few. We get them almost on a nightly basis.

But, which were the best of the best -- or the perfect ones?

In case you're not aware, numberFire Live is our very own platform that tracks each NBA game, its win probability, and player performances -- among many other features. Here, we focus on the player performances in order to find the best ones of the week.

Each player performance is rated on a scale of 1 to 100, according to production and efficiency. We are concerned only with 100 scores here.

All nine perfect games from the past week are listed in order of their nERD (a measure of a player's total contribution, based on efficiency) for the given games, from least to greatest.

9. George Hill vs. Philadelphia 76ers

It's been a crazy first year in Utah for George Hill. As a result of various injuries, he's managed to play in just 13 of 34 possible games. Before suffering a concussion Saturday night, the veteran point guard produced a very efficient performance with 21 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists against the Philadelphia 76ers.

In 29 minutes, Hill accounted for a nERD of 50.44 by hitting 8 of 10 shots from the field for a true shooting percentage of 83.1%. He finished the game with a team-high offensive rating of 151.7 while also posting an impressive defensive rating of 81.1, with three steals and a block in yet another return from injury.

8. Jabari Parker vs. Detroit Pistons

Last year, Jabari Parker showed flashes of brilliance as he had somewhat of a breakout year in Milwaukee. This season, however, the third-year player is having a true coming-out party, with an average of 20.5 points per game.

Against the Detroit Pistons Wednesday night, Parker continued his great play by totaling 31 points, 9 boards and a season-high 7 assists. In 34 minutes and on a usage of 27.7%, he worked his way to an offensive rating of 152.9. Plays like this do nothing but help the youngster's efficiency numbers, which included a nERD of 53.42.

7. Giannis Antetokounmpo vs. Chicago Bulls

From one young "Buck" to another. Giannis Antetokounmpo makes this list more frequently, and this week is no different. Again, he victimized the Chicago Bulls with a line of 35 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists in 40 minutes.

The Greek Freak accomplished that line with high efficiency, converting 13 of 19 shots for a true shooting rate of 73.4% while being involved in 33% of Milwaukee's offensive plays while on the court. That equals a nERD of 54.12 and a 20-point Bucks win.

6. Aaron Gordon vs. Memphis Grizzlies

This one comes to you via the "that came out of nowhere" category. Before the Orlando Magic's game against the Memphis Grizzlies Monday night, Aaron Gordon had played 28 minutes or less in the team's last five games. However, in the team's 112-102 win, Gordon logged 34 minutes and used each and every one of them to put up his best performance of the year.

Gordon didn't provide much in terms of peripheral stats -- with only one assist, one rebound, one block and a steal -- but he did manage 30 points on a mere 15 attempts from the field. He did so by missing just four of them while also hitting four of five from the line. His hot night ended with a nERD of 55.19, an offensive rating of 175.1 and true shooting percentage of 87.2%.

5. Isaiah Thomas vs. Miami Heat

On Friday night, Isaiah Thomas' game was as big as he is small. The 5'9" point man poured in 52 points in 37 minutes and on just 26 shots. He made 15 of his attempts from the field, of which nine came via the three-ball. He also was a perfect 13 for 13 from the free throw line for, after all was said and done, a true shooting percentage of 82%.

His usage was sky-high (43.7%), but Thomas sure did all he could with it, to the tune of a 55.2 nERD and a three-point Celtics
victory at home over the Miami Heat. Even his coach was left in dismay.

4. LaMarcus Aldridge vs. Phoenix Suns

So far, it's been quite a disappointing season for LaMarcus Aldridge as he and Pau Gasol attempt to make up for the departure of Tim Duncan. That is, until recently, when Aldridge has strung together a few good games.

One of those came absent Kawhi Leonard, when the San Antonio Spurs most needed another scorer to step up, and that's what Aldridge did. In 32 minutes and with a usage of 20.6%, Aldridge -- with 27 points, 8 rebounds, 1 block and 1 steal -- helped give the Spurs a 21-point win over the Phoenix Suns. His 56.58 nERD says it all about the stamp Alridge can put on a game.

3. Karl-Anthony Towns vs. Atlanta Hawks

Karl-Anthony Towns has had his fair share of big games this season, but his showing against the Atlanta Hawks Monday night was -- if not his best -- his most efficient. In the Minnesota Timberwolves' 104-90 win, the young center went off for 22 points, 11 rebounds and 4 assists.

In only 30 minutes, Towns earned a nERD of 59.01 by hitting all eight of his shots from the field, including three from beyond the arc. His true shooting of 118% is off the charts, but it needed to be given his low usage (15.5%). That's an offensive rating of 210.1 -- more than double Atlanta's team rating.

2. Gordon Hayward vs. Los Angeles Lakers

As I mentioned before, George Hill has been in and out of the Jazz lineup. With that being the case, the team has been absent a consistent point guard in the truest sense. But, they managed to replace the void unconventionally, by utilizing the skills of Gordon Hayward, their star small forward.

Even with such a large amount of the offensive burden on his shoulder, Hayward has enjoyed success in his role. That was the case Tuesday night against the Los Angeles Lakers, when Hayward played 34 minutes with a usage of 28.2%, producing 31 points, 3 assists, 9 rebounds on his way to a nERD of 60.55.

1. James Harden vs. New York Knicks

I've said it once and I'll say it again: James Harden has made a home of this weekly piece. With the help of Coach D'Antoni's system and his teammates, the Beard has put up many big triple-double and scoring nights -- most of them ultra-efficient. There certainly hasn't been one to this level, though.

In the Houston Rockets' 129-122 victory over the New York Knicks, Harden played a whopping 42 minutes, scoring 53 points, handing out 17 assists and grabbing 16 rebounds. He made 14 of 26 from the floor and 16 of 18 from the line for a true shooting of 78.1% and a nERD of 64.71.

As is evident from his usage of 40.6%, Harden
did so much for his team.